Partnership approach to integrated care wins top accolade for West Suffolk Hospital

24 June 2003

West Suffolk Hospital’s partnership approach to improving outcomes for patients in its integrated care unit (ICU) has won recognition at a conference in Birmingham for NHS professionals from the Midlands and East Anglia.

Unit manager, Jane Parkinson, led a workshop and presentation about how West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust has achieved effective partnership working with Suffolk West Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Suffolk Social Services.

At the conference at Birmingham’s NEC, jointly sponsored by the NHS Improvement Network and the NHS Modernisation Agency, delegates attending the workshop voted Jane’s performance the ‘best presentation and workshop’ winning a £1,000 award for the unit.

“It’s an honour to have won this award, which we’ll use to further develop the integrated care service at West Suffolk Hospital and sharing our experiences with service providers throughout the region,” said Jane after her success on Wednesday (18 June).

“The award is really a tribute to the effectiveness of our partnership working within the new integrated care unit, which has made such a difference to the lives of many elderly patients in the area.

“We have many examples of how the nursing-led care provided in ICU has helped some patients return to their own homes, with a reduced care package, instead of going into a nursing home,” explained Jane

Both patients and staff benefit from the new approach to care in the unit, created during a £770,000 refurbishment of a former psychiatric ward. “More than 92% of staff strongly agreed that the environment in the new unit was better for them and the patients for whom it helped optimise their independence.”

The modern unit has 24 beds, arranged in bays of six beds, plus a double room and two single rooms. It has been carefully designed and equipped with the latest electrically adjustable beds, standing and raising aids and touch-sensitive flush toilets. An Arjo jacuzzi bath has been used to settle the more confused patients at night, and some patients have reported improved joint mobility after using the bath. The unit is staffed by a nurse-led team, with occupational and physiotherapy sessions provided by community staff from Suffolk West PCT.

“The general environment is conducive to a swift recovery,” adds Jane. “We have a lovely day room where patients can sit and eat their meals at a table, adding to their social interaction.

“Both health and social care professionals who work with patients in West Suffolk Hospital’s ICU are proud of the service we offer our patients, and the environment in which we deliver it.

“We believe we are able to provide timely, holistic, nurse and therapy-led care, in a supportive nursing-led environment, helping ease the transition from hospital, either to their own homes or to alternative care.

“We are able to give patients and their families the support they require to ensure that potential life-changing decisions are right for them,” added Jane.

She mentioned two specific examples of where time spent in the integrated care unit made a real difference to the outcomes for patients.

The first was a 75-year-old woman who came into ICU while waiting for a complex care package for home discharge. On arrival by wheelchair, this patient was totally dependent for all aspects of care. As a result of care delivery, encouragement and support from the team in the unit, when she left the hospital she was walking, and required only a small care package to enable her to continue living independently in her own home.

Another patient, aged 69 years, was waiting for a nursing home place. Again, because of the care and support she received in ICU she was able to return to her own home with a care package.

“These are just two examples of how patients, care providers and families, have benefited from the nursing, support and therapies provided by the multi-disciplinary team working in West Suffolk Hospital’s integrated care unit,” added Jane Parkinson.

Note: The ICU, or integrated care unit, is not to be confused with Intensive Care Unit.